e  OBIGI  in  n 
mem 
cm- 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 

L.   Campbell 


-3. 


CIlRIST:KTaleFbr 
The  ChristmasTide 


T716  •  RBB6Y-  COMPHNY-  CBICR6O 


PS 


V 
X 


OW  it  happened  a  long  The  mountain 

time  ago,  in  the  year  — ,  of  vision 

but  the  exact  year  does 

not  matter,  because  you 
_  _    _  will  not  find  this  story 

written  in  the  history  of  any  of  the 
nations  of  the  world.  But  in  one  of 
the  countries  of  Europe  bordering  on 
the  Mediterranean  Sea  was  a  lofty 
mountain,  which,  to  the  dwellers  in 
the  plains  below,  seemed  to  reach  to 
the  very  sky.  At  times  its  summit  w^as 
covered  with  clouds,  so  that  it  could 
not  be  seen;  at  other  times  it  stood 
out  fair  and  clear,  as  though  silently 
asking  the  people  to  look  up  and  not 
down.  The  lower  slopes  of  the  moun 
tain  were  covered  -with  olive  trees, 
with  groves  of  oranges  and  lemons, 
and  with  vineyards,  and  they  were 
dotted  here  and  there  with  the  little 
white  cottages  of  the  peasants  who 
made  their  living  from  these  groves 
and  vineyards,  the  fruit  of  which  they 
sold  in  the  city  not  far  away. 

3 


Along  the  mountain-side  wound  a 
the  sea  foot-trail  even  to  the  summit,  and  no 
where,  in  all  the  region,  was  there  a 
finer  view  of  the  Mediterranean  than 
from  the  summit  of  this  mountain.  In 
the  long  summer  afternoons  the  peas 
ants  and  children  would  climb  to  the 
top,  and  look  off  on  the  lovely  picture 
of  land  and  sea.  Then  they  would  eat 
their  simple  lunch  of  bread  and  dates 
and  olives, quenching  their  thirst  from 
the  spring  on  the  mountain-side, 
which  they  called  "Dew-of-heaven," 
so  clear  and  fresh  and  sparkling  was 
it;  and  when  the  sun  began  to  touch 
the  western  sky  with  his  pencils  of 
gold  and  carmine  and  purple,  they 
hastened  down,  that  they  might  reach 
their  cottages  before  the  night  shut  in. 

On  the  day  when  this  story  begins 
a  man  was  standing  on  the  summit  of 
the  mountain  looking  across  the  sea 
in  the  direction  where  you  will  find 

4 


Tyre  and  Joppa  on  the  map.  He  was,  A  stranger 
very  plainly,  not  one  of  the  peasants  cometh 
-who  lived  on  the.  mountain-side.  He 
looked  about  sixty  years  of  age;  he 
•was  tall  and  erect,  though  he  carried 
a  staff  in  his  hand.  His  hair  and  beard 
•were  long  and  flowing,  and  almost 
gray,  but  his  eye  was  clear  and  pene 
trating,  and  he  was  looking  across 
the  sea  as  though  he  expected  some 
one  to  appear. 

And  while  he  stood  there  gazing 
seaward,  there  appeared  a  second 
man  on  the  summit,  helping  himself 
up  with  his  staff,  and  panting  with 
the  effort  of  the  long  climb.  From  his 
dress  and  manner  it  was  plain  that 
this  man,  too,  was  not  one  of  the 
peasants,  for,  like  the  first  comer,  he 
seemed  to  belong  to  another  age  and 
clime.  The  two  men  glanced  at  each 
other  and  gave  such  greeting  as  stran 
gers  might  -who  should  meet  in  so 
solitary  a  spot  as  a  mountain  summit. 

5 


And  findeth  Then  both  lapsed  into  silence  and 
a  friend  looked  off  across  the  sea. 

Presently  the  last  corner  seemed  to 
wake  from  his  reverie;  he  walked 
over  to  the  place  where  the  other  was 
sitting,  still  gazing  off  toward  Joppa, 
and  touched  him  on  the  shoulder: 
"A  thousand  pardons,  my  friend,"  he 
said,  "but  my  mind  is  haunted  with 
some  far-off  recollection,  as  though 
in  some  other  land  and  some  far-off 
time  I  had  seen  thy  face.  Wilt  thou 
have  the  kindness  to  tell  me  thy 
name?" 

Without  lifting  his  eyes  from  the 
sea,  and  in  a  tone  which  seemed  re 
gretful  and  sad,  the  stranger  replied: 
"My  name  is  Gaspard." 

"Gaspard!  Indeed,  then  have  I  seen 
thee!  Look  at  me,  my  friend;  dost 
thou  not  remember  me?  My  name  is 
Melchior.  Dost  thou  not  recall  that 
time,  how  long  ago  I  know  not,  when 
thou  and  I  and  Balthazar  followed  a 

6 


star  which  led  us  to  a  little  Jewish  A  far-off 
hamlet,  thou  bearing  gold  and  I  frank-  pilgrimage 
incense,  and  Balthazar  myrrh?  Dost  recalled 
thou  not  remember  how,  on  the  long 
journey  thither,  we  talked  about  the 
young  Prince,  whom  we  expected  to 
find  in  a  royal  palace,  and  how  at  last 
when  we  reached  the  village,  follow 
ing  the  star,  we  were  led  not  to  a  pal 
ace,  but  to  a  little  inn,  and  not  even 
to  a  room  within  the  inn,  but  to  the 
stable-yard,  where  we  found  a  sweet- 
faced  peasant  woman  bending  over  a 
babe  cradled  in  a  manger;  and  stand 
ing  near,  a  sturdy  peasant,  proud  and 
happy ,whose  name  was  Joseph?  Dost 
thou  not  remember,  too,  that  when 
we  had  recovered  from  our  surprise, 
we  left  our  gifts  and  greetings,  and 
went  our  way  as  men  who  had  been 
dreaming?  Gaspard,  dost  thou  not 
remember?" 
And  Gaspard,  looking  now  intently 


in  the  other's  face,  replied: 


Yes, 
7 


And  Melchior,  I  remember  thee,  and  I  re- 
wanderings  member  the  journey  of  which  thou 
in  many  hast  spoken  better  than  I  remember 
lands  aught  else.  Neither  have  I  forgotten 
the  surprise  and  disappointment  with 
which  we  came  to  the  place  whither 
the  star  led  us;  nor  how,  after  leav 
ing  our  gifts,  we  went  away  as  in  a 
dream;  and,  Melchior,  I  have  been 
dreaming  ever  since.  Even  here  hast 
thou  found  me  in  a  dream  of  perplex 
ity.  I  am  still  Gaspard,  the  wander 
ing  magician;  for  how  many  years  I 
know  not,  I  have  wandered  up  and 
down  these  lands' of  Europe.  I  have 
crossed  the  seas;  in  every  place  I 
have  sought  to  find  the  kingdom  over 
which  we  were  told  this  young  prince 
was  one  day  to  reign.  Dost  thou  not 
remember  that  we  were  told  his  king 
dom  was  to  last  forever,  that  he  would 
reign  in  it  himself  forever  and  would 
never  die?  Alas!  I  have  lost  the  old 
power  of  the  magician's  art.  I  can 
8 


summon  no  star  to  guide  me  to  the  If  only 
place  where  I  shall  find  this  kingdom  Balthazar 
and  its  king."  were  here 

"Truly,  Gaspard,"  answered  Mel- 
chior,  "the  story  of  your  wanderings 
is  but  the  repetition  of  my  own;  and 
even  now  was  I  drawn  to  this  moun 
tain  summit  on  the  self-same  errand 
that  brought  you  here, — to  see  if  I 
could  not  discover  in  the  direction  of 
yonder  land,  where  Bethlenem  was, 
some  star  which  might  prove  to  be 
His  star,  and  which  might  guide  me 
in  the  new  quest.  If  only  our  old  com 
panion,  Balthazar,  were  with  us  now, 
he  might  give  us  the  clew  to  our 
search,  for  not  only  was  he  more  skil 
ful  in  the  magician's  art,  but  he  was 
braver  and  more  courageous,  and 
withal  more  serene  in  spirit." 

Now,  even  while  Melchior  was 
speaking,  a  voice  was  heard  a  little 
way  down  the  mountain.  Gaspard 
and  Melchior  stopped  to  listen.  The 

9 


A  song  voice  was  singing,  and  the  words  of 
in  the  air  the  song  floated  up  to  them  distinctly: 

If  the  sun  has  hid  its  light, 
If  the  day  has  turned  to  night, 
If  the  heavens  are  not  benign, 
If  the  stars  refuse  to  shine — 

Heart  of  man  lose  not  thy  hope; 

Door,  there's  none  that  shall  not  ope; 

Path,  there's  none  that  shall  not  clear; 

Heart  of  man!  why  shouldst  thou  fear! 

If  for  years  should  be  thy  quest, 
If  for  years  thou  hast  no  rest, 
If  thou  circlest  earth  and  sea, 
If  thou  worn  and  weary  be — 

Heart  of  man,  lose  not  thy  hope; 

Door,  there's  none  that  shall  not  ope; 

Path,  there's  none  that  shall  not  clear; 

Heart  of  man!  why  shouldst  thou  fear! 

"That,"  exclaimed  Gaspard  and 
Melchior  together,  "is  the  voice  of 
Balthazar,"  and  they  hastened  to 
meet  him,  for  he  was  now  almost  at 
the  summit,  and  the  refrain  of  his 
song  was  still  upon  his  lips.  At  that 

10 


moment  Balthazar  sprang  up  from  Balthazar 
the  sloping  path  into  full  view  of  the  cometh 
two  men,  and,  giving  each  a  hand, 
exclaimed:  "Gaspard,  Melchior,  be 
loved  companions,  I  have  found  you 
at  last.  The  peasants  below  were  not 
mistaken.  From  their  description,  I 
was  certain  I  should  find  you  here. 
And  you,  too,  have  been  searching 
these  long  years  for  the  kingdom  of 
the  Christ!  and,  like  me,  you  have 
met  with  disappointment;  but,  com 
rades,  be  not  of  faint  heart: 

Door,  there's  none  that  shall  not  ope; 
Path,  there's  none  that  shall  not  clear. 

Let  us  hasten  down  the  mountain, 
for  see!  the  sky  is  already  growing 
gold  and  crimson  beyond  the  pillars 
of  Hercules.  Let  us  seek  the  way 
farers'  lodging  with  the  hospitable 
peasants  in  the  valley,  and  to-morrow 
let  us  begin  our  search  for  the  Christ 
anew.  We  have  wandered  alone;  let 

ii 


Forget  not    us  invoke  now  the  star  to  guide  us 

hospitality    together." 

That  night,  therefore,  the  three 
strangers  lodged  with  the  simple 
peasant  people  in  the  valley,  partak 
ing  with  thankfulness  of  the  coarse 
bread,  the  dates  and  the  red  wine — 
the  common  fare  of  their  daily  life. 
Nor  did  they  fail  to  notice  a  motto 
inscribed  above  the  fireplace  in  rude 
Greek  letters: 

THL  OIAOSENIAS  MM 
ETHAANeANEieE 

(N  the  morrow  they  were 
readytobegintheirsearch 
together  for  the  Christ, 
and  they  hoped  not  to 
wander  far  before  they 
should  find  at  least  the  outskirts  of 
His  kingdom.  But  whither  should 
they  go?  In  what  direction  should 
they  first  turn  their  steps? 
12 


While  they  were  thus  wondering   Once  more 
and  debating,  Balthazar  suddenly  ex-   a  star 
claimed:  "I  see  the  star!"  And  be 
hold,  a  little  way  before  them,  and  at 
no  great  distance  above  their  heads, 
they  discerned  in  the  gray  of  the 
early  morning  a  star  of  pale,  opal 
light,  which  seemed  to  move  forward 
as  the  men  moved  toward  it. 

"We  must  follow  the  star!"  Bal 
thazar  said,  in  a  whisper.  Silently 
and  breathlessly  his  companions 
followed  on. 

Now,  so  intently  did  the  three  men 
keep  their  eyes  fixed  upon  the  star, 
and  so  eagerly  did  they  follow  in  the 
direction  where  it  seemed  to  lead,  that 
it  was  only  after  a  considerable  time 
they  discovered  that  they  had  become 
separated  from  each  other,  and  that 
their  paths  were  getting  farther  and 
farther  apart.  Yet,  there  before  each 
of  them  was  the  star,  shining  with  its 
soft,  opalescent  light,  and  still  ringing 

13 


The  star  fn  their  ears  were  the  words  of  Bal- 
stands  thazar — "we  must  follow  the  star." 
still  So  each  followed  the  star,  each  by 
himself  alone.  Gaspard's  path  wound 
along  near  the  shore  of  the  gulfs  and 
bays  of  the  Mediterranean,  until  at 
last  the  star  turned  southward  and 
drew  him  nearer  and  nearer  to  a  great 
city,  and  finally  stood  still  over  the 
dome  of  a  vast  cathedral.  "It  must 
be,"  thought  Gaspard,  "that  I  have 
come  to  the  end  of  my  search.  This 
must  be  the  capital  and  palace  of  the 
eternal  king." 

The  square  in  front  of  the  cathedral 
was  thronged  with  people;  multitudes 
were  pouring  in  through  the  great 
portals.  Gaspard  joined  the  throngs, 
and  at  last  found  himself  under  the 
mighty  dome,  which  seemed  to  him 
as  far  away  as  the  sky  itself.  Every 
thing  in  this  wonderful  place  appealed 
to  his  imagination.  There  were  great 
rows  of  massive  columns,  symbol  of 

14 


a  strength  eternal,  and  they  seemed  Marbled 
like  wide-open  arms  holding  out  a  aisle's 
welcome  to  the  human  race.  There  magnificence 
were  statues  and  paintings  by  great 
masters  in  art.  The  light  of  the  sun 
poured  in  through  many-colored  win 
dows,  on  which  were  blazoned  the 
deeds  of  heroes  and  saints.  Strains  of 
music  from  the  great  organ  in  the 
distance  floated  out  upon  the  air. 
Touched  and  thrilled  by  all  he  saw, 
Gaspard  exclaimed  to  himself:  "The 
placeon  which  I  stand  isholy  ground." 
Soon,  however,  he  perceived  that 
the  throngs  of  people  were  not  linger 
ing,  like  himself,  in  awe  and  wonder 
over  the  great  columns  and  the  dome, 
and  the  statues,  and  the  paintings,  and 
the  windows.  Their  eyes  were  fixed 
intently  upon  something  that  was  go 
ing  on  in  the  far  end  of  the  cathedral. 
An  altar  was  there,  and  priests  in 
white  robes  passing  up  and  down  be 
fore  it,  and  tall  tapers  burning  around 

15 


Kyrie  it.  Near  the  altar  was  the  image  of  a 
eleison  man  hanging  from  a  cross;  his  hands 
and  feet  were  pierced  with  nails,  and 
a  cruel  wound  was  in  his  side.  The 
people  were  gazing  at  this  altar,  and 
at  the  image,  and  at  what  the  white- 
robed  priests  were  doing.  The  strains 
of  solemn  music  from  the  organ  blend 
ed  with  the  voices  of  priests  chanting 
the  service.  Clouds  of  incense  rose 
from  censers,  swung  with  soldmn 
motion  by  the  altar-boys,  and  the 
fragrance  of  the  incense  was  wafted 
down  the  long  aisles.  At -last,  the 
tinkling  of  a  bell.  The  organ  became 
silent  for  an  instant,  as  though  it  felt 
within  its  heart  the  awful  solemnity  of 
the  moment;  and  then  it  burst  forth 
into  new  rapture,  and  the  people  be 
gan  pouring  out  through-trie  great 
doors. 

Gaspard  went  forth  with  the  throng 
intothe  cathedral  square.  "And  this," 
he  said,  "is  the  end  of  my  search.  I 
16 


have  found  the  Christ.  His  kingdom  is  We  must 
in  the  imagination  of  man.  How  beau-  follow 
tiful,  how  wonderful,  how  strange  it  the  star 
was!  'Dominusvobiscum/didnotthe 
priests  say?  Here,  then,  at  last  I  have 
found  the  city  of  the  great  King." 

But  as  he  lingered,  behold!  the  star 
which  had  stood  over  the  dome  of  the 
cathedral  was  now  before  him,  as  at 
first,  and  seemed  to  waver  and  trem 
ble,  as  if  beckoning  him  on.  So,  al 
though  his  feet  seemed  bound  to  the 
spot,  and  his  heart  was  still  throbbing 
with  the.oVeep  feelings  the  cathedral 
service  had  created  in  him,  remem 
bering  the  words  of  Balthazar,  "we 
must  follow  the  star,"  he  slowly  and 
reluctantly"  walked  on. 

fN  the  meantime  Melchior 
also  had  followed  faith 
fully  the  path  along  which 
the  star  seemed  to  lead. 
Through  forests  in  which 
he  almost  lost  his  way,  across  rivers 
difficult  and  dangerous  to  ford — still 


The  just  he  followed  on.  At  length  Melchior's 
shall  live  star  seemed  to  tarry  over  the  spire  of 

by  faith  a  gothic  church,  into  which  the  peo 
ple  were  going  in  throngs.  Waiting 
a  moment,  to  be  sure  that  the  star  was 
actually  standing  still,  Melchior  went 
in  with  the  rest.  In  this  place  was  no 
altar,  such  as  Gaspard  saw;  no  image 
on  the  cross;  no  white-robed  priests; 
no  swinging  censers.  But,  as  Mel 
chior  entered  he  heard  strains  from 
the  organ,  and  a  chorus  of  voices  was 
singing  an  anthem  beginning  with  the 
words,  "Te  Deum  Laudamus."  And 
when  the  anthem  came  to  a  close,  a 
man  clothed  in  a  black  robe,  such  as 
scholars  were  wont  to  wear,  rose  in 
his  place  upon  a  platform  elevated 
above  thepeople,andbegantospeak  to 
them  about  the  kingdom  of  the  Christ. 
Melchior  listened  in  eager  expect 
ancy.  "The  kingdom  of  the  Christ," 
the  preacher  said,  "is  the  kingdom  of 
the  Truth,  and  the  truth  is  to  be  con- 
18 


tinued  and  kept  alive  by  the  strength    The  truth 
and  constancy  of  man's  belief.  Those    shall  make 
things  which  have  been  handed  down   you  free 
by  holy  men  and  sacred  oracles  since 
Christ  was  here  upon  the  earth,  are 
the  truths  by  which  we  live.  How  can 
Christ  live,  except  He  live  in  our  be 
liefs?  Why  did  the  Father  of  all  in 
trust  us  with  our  reasons,  unless  it 
were  that  we  should  make  them  the 
instruments  of  our  faith  and  our  sal 
vation?  Let  us  therefore  stand  in  our 
places,  while  we  recite  together  the 
articles  of  our  holy  faith." 

These  and  many  such  words  did  the 
scholar-preacher  declare.  And  as  he 
sat  there  with  the  people,  Melchior 
felt  the  weight  of  the  solemn  and  ear 
nest  words,  and  he  said:  "So  at  last 
have  I  come  to  the  end  of  my  search. 
The  kingdom  of  Christ  is  in  the  mind 
of  man.  His  kingdom  is  the  kingdom 
of  the  truth." 

Then  he  followed  the  throngs  as 
they  went  forth  from  the  church;  but 

19 


More 

light  shall 
break  forth 


the  star  which  had  tarried  over  the 
lofty  spire  -was  now  before  him,  and 
the  opal  light  wavered  and  trembled, 
as  if  beckoning  him  on;  and  the  'words 
of  the  preacher,  "we  must  believe," 
seemed  to  blend  with  the  words  of 
Balthazar,  "we  must  follow  the  star." 
So,  reluctantly  and  slowly,  he  fol 
lowed  on. 

lUT  Balthazar — whither 
went  he,  following  the 
star?  Over  many  a  rug 
ged  way,  through  many  a 
tangled  thicket,  through 
valleys  and  over  hills.  His  star  tarried 
over  no  cathedrals;  it  lingered  over 
no  gothic  spires.  It  seemed  capricious 
and  restless  and  tireless.  At  times  it 
seemed  intent  on  coming  to  a  pause 
over  the  head  of  some  human  being, 
but  perhaps  it  was  because  these  hu 
man  beings  themselves  were  so  rest 
less  and  so  busy  that  the  star  could  not 
accomplish  its  intent.  For  Balthazar 
20 


saw  these  men  and  women  hurrying   Thy 
hither  and  thither  on  errands  of  mer-   sacramental 
cy,  or  deeds  of  justice;  he  saw  them   liturgies 
ferreting  out  great  wrongs,  laying 
heavy  blows  on  the  backs  of  men  who 
oppressed  and  defrauded  their  fellow 
men. 

At  length  Balthazar  seemed  to  un 
derstand  the  movements  of  the  star, 
and,  drawing  nearer,  he  would  seem 
to  hear  these  men  repeating  cheering 
and  encouraging  words  to  one  an 
other.  "Pure  religion  and  undefiled," 
he  heard  one  exclaiming,  "is  to  visit 
the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their 
affliction,  and  to  keep  himself  unspot 
ted  from  the  world."  And  another 
echoed:  "Inasmuch  as  we  do  it  to  the 
least  of  these,  we  do  it  unto  Christ." 

"Ah!"  thought  Balthazar  as  he  list 
ened,  I  see  the  meaning  of  it  now;  I 
am  coming  to  the  end  of  my  search. 
The  kingdom  of  Christ — I  have  found 
it.  It  is  in  the  deeds  of  men;  it  is  in  the 

21 


The  joy  of     conscience  and  the  serving  will.  De- 
doing  good     vption  to  right,  this  is  the  law  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ." 

Then  Balthazar  turned  to  go  in 
search  of  his  comrades  again;  but  be 
hold!  the  opal  star  was  trembling,  as 
if  beckoning  him  on.  So,  still  doubt 
ing  if  he  had  reached  the  end  of  his 
search,  he  followed  the  star. 

>HUS  Gaspard,  Melchior 
and  Balthazar,  each  fol 
lowing  the  star,  at  last 
approached  each  other. 
The  star  of  each  seemed 
to  melt  and  blend  into  the  star  of  the 
others,  and  the  opal  light  stood  at  last 
in  the  center  of  the  group.  Gaspard 
exclaimed:  "I  have  found  that  which 
we  all  were  seeking.  The  kingdom  of 
Christ  is  in  the  imagination;  Christ 
lives  in  what  man  feels." 

"Nay,"  said  Melchior,  "I  have  fol 
lowed  the  star,  and  I  have  found  what 
we  sought.  The  kingdom  of  Christ  is 

22 


in  the  reason  of  man.  Christ  lives  in     The  paths 
what  man  believes."  converge 

"But,"  cried  Balthazar,  "my  star 
has  led  me  to  a  different  end.  The 
kingdom  of  Christ  is  in  the  will  of 
man.  Christ  lives  in  what  man  does." 

"The  truth,"  once  more  exclaimed 
Melchior,  "is  the  law  of  the  king 
dom." 

"Not  truth,"  declared  Balthazar, 
"but  justice,  righteousness,  goodness 
and  purity — these  are  its  laws  and  its 
marks." 

"Nay,  comrades  beloved,  hearken 
to  me,"  answered  Gaspard;  "it  is  the 
miracle  of  the  divine  presence.  It 
is  God  among  men,  realized  in  the 
holy  mass.  I  beheld  it  all  in  yonder 
cathedral." 

But  lo!  once  more  the  star  began 
to  tremble  and  to  change  its  place. 

"Let  us  follow  the  star!"  Balthazar 
whispered.  "We  will  follow  it,"  ech 
oed  the  other  two. 

23 


Once  more  Then  the  star  led  them  on,  and  they 
the  quest  followed  together  until  they  came  at 
length  to  the  doorway  of  a  little  cot 
tage;  and  within  the  cottage  they  saw 
a  woman  bending  over  a  cradle,  and 
in  the  cradle  a  little  child  lay  sleep 
ing.  She  was  a  peasant  woman;  her 
clothing  was  not  rich;  the  furnishing 
of  the  cottage  was  humble  and  scanty. 
The  cradle  itself  was  rude,  as  if  put 
together  by  hands  unskilful  in  tasks 
like  that.  But  when  the  mother  looked 
at  her  babe  a  sweet  smile  played  about 
her  lips,  and  a  light  was  in  her  eyes. 
Then  all  suddenly  the  three  men  re 
membered  another  scene  long  before, 
when  they  were  bearers  of  gold  and 
frankincense  and  myrrh  to  another 
babe. 

And  while  they  stood  and  wondered 
by  the  door,  there  came  a  strong  and 
sturdy  peasant,  broad-shouldered, 
roughly  clad,  his  face  browned  in  the 
sun,  his  hands  hardened  with  toil. 

24 


He  came  and  stood  beside  the  woman,    He  that 
and  they  bent  together  over  the  era.-   loveth 
die  of  the  sleeping  child,  and  the  man    knoweth  God 
drew  the  woman  tenderly  toward  him 
and  kissed  her  brow. 

And  still  the  three  men  lingered; 
for  behold!  the  star  stood  still  above 
the  child,  and  they  dared  not  speak. 
But  the  heart  of  Gaspard  was  saying 
in  silence,  "There  is  something  great 
er  than  the  repeated  miracle  of  the 
mass." 

And  Melchior  was  thinking,  "There 
is  something  mightier  even  than  the 
mind;  something  superior  to  naked 
truth." 

And  Balthazar  was  confessing  to 
himself  that  he  had  found  something 
more  potent  even  than  the  righteous 
deed.  For  here  they  all  beheld  how 
life  was  made  sweet  and  blessed  and 
holy  by  the  power  of  love;  and  by 
love  for  a  little  child,  in  whom  was  all 
weakness  and  helplessness,  whose 

25 


288683 


For  God  only  voice  was  a  cry,  but  who  was  all 
is  love  strong  and  mighty  with  the  power  of 
God,  because  he  could  transform 
roughness  into  tenderness,  and  self 
ishness  into  loving  care,  and  poverty 
itself  into  gifts  of  gold  and  fragrant 
myrrh. 

"Truly,  my  comrades,"  Balthazar 
said,  "love  is  the  greatest  of  all." 

"And  now  I  understand,"  said  Gas- 
pard,  "how  the  weak  things  of  the 
world  can  confound  the  mighty." 

"And  I, "added  Melchior,"see  what 
it  means  for  God  to  come  to  earth  in 
the  form  of  a  little  child." 

And  so  they  turned  away,  and  the 
radiance  of  the  star  was  round  about 
them,  and  they  were  saying  to  each 
other:  "Our  search  at  last  is  ended." 

26 


Copyright  1903  By 

The  Sketching  Club 

In  Indianapolis 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
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